Painted Pony Competition, Doggy Trail, and NQHL Huntfield Derby Highlight Off Day at Stars N Stripes and Big A
All photos courtesy of Lisa Lee.
By: Brittany Bevis
Yesterday might have been the off day for regular competition at the 2015 Stars N Stripes and Big A, but that only meant there was more room on the schedule for fun, special events!
A group of kiddos showed off their creativity during the ChelMar Farms Painted Pony Decorating Session from 8:30- 10:30 am. Tiny tykes used brightly colored paint, yarn, feathers, beads, glue, googly eyes, and plenty of glitter to decorate their horses in preparation for the ChelMar Farms Painted Pony Show that was set to take place later in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, other young competitors warmed up their canines for the Stock Market/GQHYA Dog Show, which included a full Doggy Trail course, speed races, and costume contest. Check out this video from Chad Evans of Miss Tori Evans and Bart, who laid down a very impressive pattern in Doggy Trail; this team also won the Best Costume for their Frozen-inspired design!
Winner of Best Costume- Miss Tori Evans and Bart!
Lending his expertise for the judging of the Dog Show was our very own Gordon Downey. According to Gordon, it was clear during the Trail practice session that competitors and their canines were ready to put their best foot (paw) forward.
“The Trail practice was fierce!” he says. “One dog required three handlers, but it seemed very tame to me! It was too much pressure to judge. I liked them all!”
Alfred Hewitt with Naturally Brilliant. Photo courtesy of Raymond Coutley.
Meanwhile, not all of the horses had a day off. The National Quarter Horse League Huntfield Derby saw 80 Derby runs under the lights of the Georgia International Horse Park stadium. With 36 entries in the Low Derby and 19 entries in the High Derby this was the largest Huntfield Derby on record. Congratulations to the winner of the Open Derby, Alfred Hewitt with Naturally Brilliant, for owners Dave and Joanne Farrah. Click here to view complete results from the class, courtesy of Mark Harrell Horse Shows.
Scroll below to view some hilarious photos from the Painted Pony Competition and Dog Show, courtesy of Lisa Lee and Gordon Downey, and some great pictures from the Huntfield Derby.
